The struggle of increase plantation worker’s wage passed today with the opposition of the employers.
Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de silva said that, he was very happy because this issue is continued past few years.
Around 14 rounds of discussions were held with employers and trade unions to increase on wage on wages of employees.
At the end of this discussions two new wage boards for the tea and rubber industries were appointed and on 8th February, they were decided to pay the estate workers Rs.1000 per day. There were 187 petitions received against it.
Although the two wage boards were convened last week due to due to the insufficient participation from the employers, wages board were reconvened by the commissioner General of Labor today.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva says that the two wage boards met today and the final decision was taken by a majority agreement despite the protests of the employers. Accordingly, the Gazette notification to increase the daily wage of the estate workers to Rs.1000
With this decision, the Minister further said that to strengthen the national economy of this country, a great benefit and relief will be provided to the nearly 200,000 plantation workers who are shedding their labor.